Tips on treating psoriasis…

Now psoriasis is a real bugbear of mine – why you ask? Because people just don’t get it!

My partner actually suffers from psoriasis so I’ve researched it so much to get a better understanding of it, I feel like somewhat of an expert. I am not, of course, but I do feel like I know more than many, especially those who are ignorant and assume it must be contagious, or poke fun at flaking skin or think it’s just eczema!

The National Psoriasis Foundation characterises psoriasis as an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the immune system sends faulty signals that accelerate the growth of skin cells.

And SkinBase followers and any fellow psoriasis sufferers I am sure you’ll agree, it’s not always easy. So for that reason we’ve pulled together some top tips for treating psoriasis, there is no cure but these tips should help you treat, manage and improve symptoms better. Take a look!

Moisturise

When you’re talking about tips on treating psoriasis, moisturising should be top of the list, especially during the colder months. It’s also essential to keep skin moist throughout the year to reduce redness and heal itchy, dry patches of skin. Always look for thick creams or lotions that are fragrance free so that they don’t irritate the skin further.

Take a dead sea salt bath

This psoriasis treatment tip is also a great way to relax and pamper yourself – go on, you deserve it! A recent study found marked improvement on redness and itching in those who took a bath of Dead Sea salts at 10% concentration 3-4 times per week! These bath salts are also great for improving insomnia, eczema and arthritis pain.

Love olives inside and out

Eating olives or applying olive oil on skin is an easy way to treat psoriasis. Olive oil has long been known for being an all-natural moisturiser and eye makeup remover that soothes and moisturizes skin.

Hydrate the air

Using a humidifier is both a great way to moisten the dry air and moisten your skin as well. Dry air can really take it’s toll on all skin types especially individuals with psoriasis. Using a humidifier is great for dry eyes too and also helps alleviate cold and flu symptoms and prevent dry lips. Who knew that a humidifier had so many benefits!

Get the sun on your skin!

Getting outdoors for fresh air and sun does a lot more than just help refresh you; it’s also a super cheap and easy way to treat psoriasis! WebMD suggests applying sunscreen to all unaffected areas and then soaking up the sun. Start out small and spend about 10 minutes outside, then work your way up to 20-30 minutes. Careful you don not overdo it as you don’t want to cause your skin damage and do more harm then good!

Go for a dip

Apple cider vinegar is known to help treat symptoms of psoriasis. It works best on psoriasis on finger and toe nails, but you can also apply it on a cotton ball directly to affected patches of skin.

Get wrapped up

Many health experts approve of using plastic wrap occlusion to treat psoriasis. It might sound fancy but it’s actually deceptively easy to do and many people report good results! What you do is apply your topical medication as usual and cover up the area with plastic wrap. This cheap trick helps the medication really sink in and helps keep the area moisturised!

Aloe Vera gel

Applying aloe vera gel to affected skin is another cheap and effective way to treat psoriasis. Aloe vera has been used for centuries to treat burns, heal wounds and soothe skin. You can either get pure aloe vera gel at a health food store or get a plant and cut open the leaves to apply the gel to your skin. Aloe vera is also fantastic as an all-natural moisturiser that strengthens and fortifies skin!

Living with psoriasis can be challenging but there are many ways you can treat it and help get symptoms under control. In addition to these treatment tips, maintaining a healthy lifestyle will do wonders for your skin and well-being. Do you have any tips on treating psoriasis?